Lawyer to media: Duterte may be criticizing you, but not hindering freedom

Atty. Trixie Cruz-Angeles, a known supporter of President Rodrigo Duterte in her Facebook page gave a message to the mainstream media: You are experiencing press freedom udner Duterte, don't interpret his words as attacks.

She said that while it is true that the president is using profanity, the inaccurate reporting of the media is the bigger issue.

She said Duterte hasn't told advertisers to pull out, like former President Joseph Estrada, or accused a journalist of libel like former President Corazon Aquino, nor has he closed down mass media like former President Ferdinand Marcos.

He also defended biased media, saying "they have freedom of speech" as well as saying "Do not hesitate to attack me, criticize me if I do wrong in my job," to journalists.

"The president does retain his freedom of speech and in using "putang ina" he did so knowing that the Supreme Court had long ago ruled that such does not constitute profanity or libel," she said.

"It cannot be interpreted as an attack on media, given the freedom media enjoys under this administration. But it is an expression of irritation and anger on the inaccuracies allegedly passed off as news by those who advertise themselves as objective and balanced," Angeles added.